Officials cautioned Northeast residents to not be misled by a relatively smooth Monday morning commute, and pressed their cautions to prepare for a "crippling and potentially historic" storm that could bury communities from northern New Jersey to southern Maine in up to 2 feet of snow starting later in the day.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has asked lawmakers for more money this year and next, but with an even stronger grip on the Legislature and new checks on the governor's power, Republicans are unlikely to give him what he wants.

The Super Bowl location in sunny Arizona will present a dilemma for league officials as they grapple with a question faced by many pro sports teams in an era of retractable roofs: whether to play the game with the stadium open or closed.